Day 256 - February 25 - Seven

That's the duration of time, in minutes, that Connor was off of the vent tonight and breathing on his own. Woohoo! Pretty cool, huh?

We're very excited about this, particularly the exponential acceleration he's experienced over the last five days. For those who might have missed it, a month ago (the previous time we tried taking the boy off of the vent momentarily) Connor was unable to draw a breath - his chest was completely motionless. On Saturday last (February 21st), when we tried that again, we were all surprised to see him draw a breath at all, much less continue for a whole minute. We didn't attempt it on Sunday, but on Monday evening he went for two minutes, and last night he made the three-minute mark. Tonight, he decided to double his best time, then went on to push all the way to seven minutes! So we are very thankful for this progress - even these small steps seem huge from our perspective.

The best part? He never got lightheaded or oxygen-deprived or dizzy - he just kept breathing like a La Maze coach the whole time!

Most certainly I would like you to thank God for this progress. I also covet your continued prayers that Connor be set free from this machine once and for all. In order to give you the knowledge to pray effectively, please bear with me and allow me to tell you two things that this progress isn't...

It isn't involuntary - meaning he has to think about breathing because it isn't automatic breathing like you and I do all the time; and,
It isn't diaphragmatic - meaning that it's primarily the supplemental breathing muscles in his chest and sides.

The good news is that yesterday, I saw the muscles as low as his armpits moving as he tried to breathe, and tonight I saw his whole ribcage moving. His breaths are coming more deeply than they were, so we are very hopeful as we continue to pray.

Now, don't ask me why the muscles in his chest, the nerves for which come from C4-C6, are working while the diaphragm, controlled through C1-C2, is not (yet). I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV, so I won't venture any medical guesses. The best answer I can give for the seeming paradox is that this is the way God wants it.

So continue to lift up the boy and his family - we really need all the help we can get. Pray that this progress continues in the exponential fashion. Pray that God will free Connor from the ventilator soon. Pray that Connor's feeling will return along with his motion and control. And pray that Cherié in particular, and I, will be able to get the rest we need while also drawing close to each other and to God.

Good night.

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